Ascetic monk caves at the Monastery of Mar-Saba (St Savva), Judean Desert, Israel

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The Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified,known in Arabic as Mar Saba is a Greek Orthodox monastery overlooking the Kidron Valley in the West Bank east of Bethlehem. The traditional date for the founding of the monastery by Saint Sabas of Mutalaska, Cappadocia is the year 483 and today houses around 20 monks. It is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited monasteries in the world, and still maintains many of its ancient traditions. One in particular is the restriction on women entering the main compound. The only building that women can enter is the Women's Tower, near the main entrance. The monastery holds the relics of St. Sabbas the Sanctified. Mar Saba is occasionally referred to as the Convent or Monastery of Santa Sabba.

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Photo credit: © Dimitry Bobroff / Alamy / Afripics
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